By John Durkee
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwgs/local-kwgs-847773.mp3
Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics has launched three initiatives aimed at curbing the illicit use of pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient for manufacturing methamphetamine. OBN Spokesman Mark Woodward says newly-enacted legislation requires a birth date, in addition to full name and a state-issued identification number for purchasing pseudoephedrine at pharmacies. Woodward says the birth date requirement will help eliminate sales to individuals using fake or multiple identification cards to purchase more pseudoephedrine than state law allows.
R. Darrell Weaver, OBN Director, says his agency is continually exploring ways to further reduce domestic methamphetamine production.
In 2006, Oklahoma was the first state to begin tracking pseudoephedrine sales electronically in real time. And according to Woodward, OBN is in the processes of using federal grant money to modify the computer tracking system. The upgrades will allow access for all of Oklahoma's law enforcement community to track, investigate, and prosecute those obtaining pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine.